Feeder independent extended culture of embryonic stem cells

Patent Number: 7,514,260

This patent covers methods of expanding embryonic stem cells without inducing their differentiation.  It specifically teaches feeder-free systems so that exogenous cells do not need to be used.

It gets away without needing a feeder by providing 2 cytokines:noggin, and a fibroblast growth factor family member, as well as various nutrients.

The first independent claim is:

"A method for culturing human embryonic stem cells in a feeder independent culture, the method comprising the step of culturing the human embryonic stem cells in a medium including salts, vitamins, amino acids, glucose, a fibroblast growth factor and a bone morphogenetic protein antagonist in the presence of an extracellular matrix in sufficient amount to maintain the stem cells in an undifferentiated state wherein the bone morphogenetic protein antagonist is noggin."

Other patents covering feeder free systems include #7,413,902 which uses extracellular matrix of lysed fibroblasts as a substitute for feeder cells, #7,413,904 which covers the use of fibroblast conditioned media, and # 7,410,798 which uses FGF.

View this patent on the USPTO website.